Status of Plasticulture Technologies in India

Dr. Rajesh Kumar Singh, Ph. D.Project Coordinator, All India Coordinated Research Project (Plasticulture Engg. & Tech) , Indian Council of Agricultural ResearchCentral Institute of Post Harvest Engg. &Tech. Ludhiana, Punjab (India), Mb: +91 9436731762Email: rksingh_ars@yahoo.com, pcapaldh@gmail.com

Training on “Protected Agriculture Technology in Asian Countries”

January 22 - 29, 2018 (China)

Plasticulture

Plasticulture is the use of plastics in agriculture,

horticulture, water-management, food grains storage and

related areas. A variety of plastics materials and end

products are deployed in plasticulture applications - for

water conservation, irrigation efficiency, crop and

environment protection, as well as end product storage

and transportation.

Why Plasticulture

Energy conservation. Require minimum energy in

production and conversion to finished products.

Higher strength / weight ratio, Superior electrical

properties.

Superior thermal insulation properties, Excellent

Corrosion resistance

Superior flexibility, Impermeability to water, gas, etc.

Resistance to chemicals,Less friction due to smoother

surface.

Controlled environment agriculture

Greenhouses

Shade net houses

Low tunnels

Plant Protection nets

Surface cover cultivation

Soil Solarisation

Plastics Mulching

Packaging

Plasticulture Technologies:

Continue…

Water management

✓ Lining of canals, ponds & reservoirs with

plastics film

✓Drip & Sprinkler Irrigation

✓PVC & HDPE pipes for water conveyance

✓Sub-surface Drainage

Nursery Management

✓Nursery bags, Pro-trays, Plastic plugs,

✓Coco-pits, Hanging baskets, Trays etc

Some Popular Plasticulture Technologies

developed under AICRP-PET installed in

farmers field

Protected cultivation

Polyhouse

Shade net house

Low tunnel structure

Plastic mulching

Aquaculture and animal husbandary

FRP carp hatchery

FRP automatic fish feeder

Post harvest Management

Foldable plastic box with cells

MAP of perishables

Shrink packaging

Polytuneel dryer

Water management

Poly lined pond

Micro irrigation

Plasticulture technologies have been proved to

enhance productivity and profitability worldwide

In India Polymer utilization is just 2% as

compared to the world average of 8%

Agricultural output can be increased by Rs

74000 crore through plasticulture

Significance of Plasticulture

Significance of Plasticulture

Production improvement(50-60%)

Water saving (60-70%)

Fertilizer saving (30-40%)

Labour saving (7-18%)

Early fruiting (10-25 days)

Excellent quality of seedlings

Enhances quality of produce

Status of plastics

Plastics demand growing rapidly @ ~10%

CAGR

Present consumption 14 MnTPA.

India is net importer of PolyEthylene (PE),

Significant regional diversity in consumption

with Western India: 47%, Northern India: 23%,

Southern India: 21% and Eastern India: 9%

Per capita consumption: 9.7 Kgs (USA: 109 kg)

Most burning issues before

Indian Agriculture

Low productivity – ever increasing

population, resource poor farmers.

Improper use of natural resources.

Uncertain and varying climatic conditions

(Spatial as well as temporal)

Climate change

Needed diversification hindered due to

climate and other natural resources and

socio-economics.

Land holdings

Total operational land holdings: 138.35 million

Avg. size of operational land holding: 1.15 ha

Small & marginal: 85%

Semi-medium: 14.3%

Large: 0.7%

Average monthly income per

agricultural household

Punjab: Rs 18059

Haryana: Rs 14434

J&K: Rs 12638

Bihar: Rs 3558

West Bengal: Rs 3980

All India Average: Rs 6426

Reasons for low adoption

High capital cost

Lack of technical knowledge

Lack of awareness about subsidies

Perception that the system is not economical

Considered as pollutants in agronomy, mulch

laying mechanization and removal from field

➢ 86% of land holdings are less than 2 hectares

➢ India is among the top producers of several crops such as wheat, rice, pulses, sugarcane and cotton.

➢ It is the highest producer of milk in world

➢ Second highest producer of fruits and vegetables

Area: 329 million hectaresAverage annual rainfall is 1190 millimeterTemp: low (-45 °C) to high (51 °C)Area protected cultivation (40,000 ha)

Supports nearly 18% of the world population, approx. 16 % of Cattle Population with 2.4% land and 4 % of water resources

Schemes/ policies by Govt. of Indiato promote protected cultivation in India

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers WelfareGovernment of India

National Horticulture Board

National Committee on plasticulture Agriculture with the Horticulture

Precision Farming Development Centre

Dept of Agrl. Res. & Edu.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research

All India Coordinated Research Projecton Plasticulture Engg. & Tech.

ICAR- Central Institute of Post Harvest Engg. & Tech., Ludhiana

National Horticulture Mission

➢ Over the last decade, the area under horticulture grew by

about 3% per annum and annual production increased by 5.4%.

➢ During 2016-17, the production of horticulture crops was about

295.2 million tonnes from an area of 24.9 million hectares

Source: NHB report, 2017

The production of vegetables hasincreased from 58.5 million tonnesto 175 million tonnes since 1991-92 to 2016-17

Impact of Govtschemes/polyciedand intervention

of protected cultivation

Area Sq

m

Greenhou

se with

Fan and

Pad

System

(Rs. /Sq

m)

Naturally Ventilated Greenhouse Shade net house

Tubular

Structure

(Rs. /Sq

m)

Wooden

Structure

(Rs. /Sq

m)

Bamboo

Structure

(Rs. /Sq

m)

Tubular

Structure

(Rs. /Sq

m)

Wooden

Structure

(Rs. /Sq

m)

Bamboo

Structure

(Rs. /Sq

m)

Up to 500 1650 1060

540 450 710 492 360

>500 to

1008

1465 935

>1008 to

2080

1420 890

>2080 to

4000

1400 844

Pattern of Assistance under MIDH for ProtectedCultivation

Financial Assistance on

Plasticulture Components

Scheme Components Subsidy pattern assistance

Govt. of India State Govt. Borne by

farmer

National

Mission on

Micro

Irrigation

(NMMI)

Micro-irrigation General Farmer 40% 10% 50%

Small and Marginal farmer 50% 10% 40%

Technology

Demonstration75% - 25%

Mission for

Integrated

Developme

nt of

Horticulture

(MIDH)

Tanks lined

with plastic

films for

Individual

i.Rs 1.50 lakhs for plain areas

ii. Rs 1.80 lakhs for hilly areas

(To irrigate 2 ha for plains as

well as hilly areas)

50%

Plastic

Mulching

i. Rs 32000/ha for plain areas

ii. Rs36800/ha for hilly areas

(upto 2 ha)

50%

Plastic Tunnels i. Rs 60 per sq m in plain areas

ii. Rs 75 per sq m in hilly areas

50%

How many types of Greenhouses

Greenhouse Groups

Glass-house

Polly -house

Shade-net-

house

I.P. net-house

FRP-house

Tunnels

Popular greenhouse structure using for production in India

Polyhouse

Semi-control

F-P-polyhouse

Force ventilated

N.V 0- electric

Dabble door, Span, 4 side and top ventilated

naturally/ zero electric energy polyhouse

( Butter fly model)

Semi Climate

Controlled/ Fain-

Pad, malty-span,

roof ventilation

polyhouse with Full

Proof Roof water

harvesting System

Greenhouse Technology for Tomato ( Var. GS-600) Production during year round

Yield 150-200q/1000m2 area

Greenhouse Technology for Cucumber ( Var. Kian) Production during year round

Yield 200- 300q /1000m2 area

Greenhouse Technology for Capsicum ( Var. Swarna) Production during year round

Yield 80- 100q /1000m2 area

Greenhouse Technology for Capsicum ( Var. Indra) Production during year round

Yield 80- 100q /1000m2 area

Capsicum: Poly-house (Ventilation by

insect-net) maximum fruit yield per

plant (1.4 kg/plant) with Net income

of Rs. 17.6 lakh/- per hectare

The highest average fruit weight (95

g/fruit) in polyhouse and B:C ratio of

3.62.

Tomato: Poly-house (Ventilation by

insect-net) fruit yield (1.7 kg/plant)

and the highest average fruit weight

(74 g/fruit) and Net income of Rs. 10.2

lakh per ha with B:C ratio of 2.60

Protected cultivation of capsicum and tomato

Water use efficiency of tomatounder drip irrigation and mulch

➢ Evapotranspiration based irrigation

scheduling was developed for

tomato to be irrigated by drip

irrigation. Irrigation requirement of

128.97 mm (43.27 litres per plant)

was obtained for the tomato crop

by using the FAO CROPWAT

software.

➢ Water Use Efficiency was found out

to be 339, 365 and 381 kg/ha-mm

in plots with no mulch, bio mulch

and black poly mulch, respectively.

➢ This shows WUE increased by

7.66% and 12.42% with use of bio

mulch and black poly mulch,

respectively.

Effect of coloured plasticmulches on tomato crop

• Red plastic mulch better: crop

parameters viz., plant height

(95.50 cm), no. of

branches/plant (20.25), no. of

fruits/plant (51.93) and weight of

fruits/plant (3.82 kg).

• Yield of the tomato crop (84.8

t/ha) red mulch

• silver mulch (73.63 t/ha).

• Minimum yield of tomato was

found in control (52.59 t/ha)

Success stories protected cultivation

Gerbera cultivation: indication of prosperity

This enterprise created confidence into him and heconstructed another greenhouse of 4000 m2 area inthe year 2012 with investment of Rs. 45 lakh. He got65% subsidy, 50% from GHM and 15 % fromHorticulture Department.He got net profit about Rs. 5.64 lakh for cultivation ofcucumber within four months

Polyhouse ( 2000 sq m)

Crop Colored Capsicum

Sowing time August 1st week

Harvesting time Nov 15 to July 15

Total expenditure(Rs.) 711000

Total yield(Kg) 48000

Selling price(Rs./Kg) 50

Total income(Rs.) 2400000

Net profit(Rs.) 1689000

Protection of CUMIN crop against adverse climate

Poly-Tunnel Structure of LDPE plastic film was

found the best for cumin crop

• Early maturity ( crop duration: 45-50

days compared to 60-75 days for

control)

• Minimum insects / pests incidence

• Water saving: 37 % (300 mm/ha as

compared to 335 mm/ha in control)

• Increased yield: 67 % (1267 kg/ha as

compared to 758 kg/ha in control)

• Better quality of cumin seeds (1000

seed weight 5.85 g compared to 4.24g

in control)

• Highest net profit of 2,28,060 Rs/ha

(control: 1,36,440 Rs/ha)

Plastic Mulching and micro irrigation

Maximum crop yield (40.5 t/ha)

in case of silver black plastic

mulch.

Maximum water use efficiency

(163.36 kg/ha-mm).

Practical utility : Water melon

cultivation under mulching

technology has been proved as a

practice for water saving as well as

good returns to farming community

Recommendation for farmers of

South Saurashtra Agro-climatic

Zone: Use silver black plastic

mulch (20 µ) with drip irrigation for

cultivating water melon in summer

season

Effect of mulch on water use efficiency and yield of water melon

Evolvement of mulching

technology for bunch type

groundnut crop

Recommendation:

The farmers of South Saurashtra

Agro climatic Zone are advised to

use silver black plastic mulch (20

µm) with drip irrigation and raised

bed for water saving and to

achieve higher crop production of

bunch type groundnut in summer

season.

Cultivation of Bt cottonunder silver black plasticmulch; Maximum cropyield (4979 kg/ha) wasfound under silver blackplastic mulch withirrigation level of ETc =0.8. While it was minimum(2693 kg/ha) for no mulchconditionThe farmers of SouthSaurashtra Agro ClimaticZone are advised to usesilver black plastic mulch(20 µm) with irrigationlevel of ETc = 0.8 underdrip irrigation for thecultivation of Bt cotton toincrease crop yield (42 %)as compare to no mulch.

Quonset shape GI frame Polyhouse

Sizes 100 m2 (Naturally ventilated)

Cost Rs 400-500 per m2 (in

Uttarakhand)

Rs 600-700 per m2 (in Srinagar –

snow bound area)

Cultivation Off-season vegetables, nursery,

strawberry

Income Rs 1,20,000 per year or more

Modified low cost Net House for vegetable

cultivation in hot climate (Punjab)

Sizes 500 m2

Cost R 1,80,000 per unit

Cultivati

on

Round the year cultivation of

vegetables

Income R 50,000 to 70,000 annually (as per

farmers evaluation)

Agribusiness as vegetable grower/ nursery grower

Technology for sunburn reduction in pomegranate fruits in hot and arid region

❑ Black net + fogger was found

the best to reduce sunburn with

almost nil burn.

❑ Black shade net (50%) 1-2%

fruits were affected by sun burn

compared to control where 40-45 % fruits affected by sunburn

Fruit juice colour affected by different treatments application

Fruit colour affected by different treatments application

T7 T4

T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9 T10

(BSN+F)

Development and evaluation of polyhouse covered fish polytank for fish rearing for high hills

Polytanks were 9.8 m × 3.0 m top, 7.4m × 0.6 m bottom, 1.2 m depth, 1:1

side slope with capacity ofapproximately 20 m3. Four of thepolytanks were covered with domeshaped galvanized iron (GI) pipepolyhouse. The dimensions of thepolyhouse were 11.0 m length, 4.2 mwidth and 1.0 m span with centralheight of 3.0 m. The size of the eachpolyhouse was 46.2 m2. There wasone ventilator of size 1.0 m × 0.8 m,one door of size 1.8 m × 1.05 m and

there was wide opening in the twolongitudinal sides fitted with insectproof net. The fish seeding in all thesix polytanks was done on 6th August2016. monthy average watertemperature and microclimate studyhas been carried out during winterseason and found that watertemperature was 2.5-4 ⁰C

Indian Irrigation Sector: Overview

1950

22 Mha 89 Mha

2016

55 MT270 MT

Indian Water Resources

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

1951 1991 2001 2025 2050

5177

22091820

1341 1140

cu

bic

metr

e p

er y

ea

r

Water Stress,

1700Water Scarce,

1000

Irrigation Scenario - India

All India Coordinated Project on Plasticulture Engineering and Technology

Water productivity

Average: 0.37 kg / m3

Net Irrigated area: 88 million ha

Micro irrigation: 7.8 million ha

Potential for micro irrigation: 69.5 million ha

Water availability vs water management

Multiple use of water

LDPE lined Water harvesting structures

Use of harvested water

Increase in yield and water savings in drip irrigation as compared to surface irrigationS.No. Crop Increase in

yield (%)Water Saving

(%)

1 Pomegranate 20-40 50-60

2 Potato 20-30 40-50

3 Sugarcane 50-60 30-50

4 Tomato 25-50 40-60

5 Cauliflower 60-80 30-40

6 Brinjal 20-30 40-60

7 Cabbage 30-40 50-60

8 Okra 25-40 20-30

9 Chilli 10-40 60-70

10 Bottle Gourd 20-40 40-50

11 French Bean 55-65 30-40

Farmers firstConserve more grow more

Thank you all